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Alright, for your
reading pleasure, allow me to introduce you to the first A Stiff Kiss Deleted
Scene, with your host, Landon Phoenix! I’m not sure if I should give a little
introduction or not, or rather let the excerpt speak for itself... But I will say,
originally this would have been the first time we met A Stiff Kiss, the old
Chapter 2!

Landon

As
I step into the janitor’s closet, the darkness overwhelms me. I reach around
beside the door fumbling to find the light switch, but can’t feel one. Instead,
I wait in the pitch black, in the small tight and cramped space. I can feel
broom handles poking me in the back, mop heads brushing up against my shoes. I
try to stand straight, afraid of what else might jump out and touch me.

A
few minutes pass and the door knob jiggles, my heart instantly speeds up
because if it’s the janitor I’ll be in some serious shit. I’m relieved—only
slightly—when Charity steps through the threshold and into my arms. I stiffen
up and have to pry her off me.

“Why
are you hanging out in the dark?” she asks as the door begins to slide closed,
the last bit of light escaping into the hallway.

I
shrug, even though she can’t see, and reply, “I couldn’t find the light
switch.”

She
lets out an annoyed sigh. Then almost instantly, and as if by a magical force,
the tiny room is illuminated. Looking up I shake my head. Of course. The tiny pull string from the light is dangling in the
air.

“I
only have a few minutes. I’m in the washroom.” She holds up her hands and air
quotes.

“So
what was so important, you had to
meet me, right now, in the janitor’s closet?”

At
first this game was fun, sneak away, make out and return to class. It was like
we are drug addicts, who needed a fix, and couldn’t wait until the end of the
day. But now, with the final game of my high school career hanging in the
balance, even the notion that I’ll be getting a full ride to the college of my
choice just outside my grasp, and what lies beyond this town, this seems silly. Not to mention, I
think I’ve attempted and failed to
break up with Charity two times this week already. She just doesn’t seem to be
getting the hint.

“This
is what couldn’t wait.” She grins and pulls my head forcefully towards her, our
lips meeting for a brief moment before I wrench away.

“No,”
I say as I wipe her spit off my lips. “Remember, last night, when I said we
should see other people? I meant it. Every word.”

Her
eyes grow wide filling with tears. She’s going to cry, again.

“I
don’t understand... I thought you loved me.” She frowns, then, a single tear
rolls down her cheek.

I
fight the urge to wipe it away with my finger. “I do love you, I’m just not... Inlove
withyou. It was great. It really
was. But this has to stop. I mean you’re going to L.A. or wherever it was, and
I’m going to college...”

“But—but
it’s like a rule—head cheerleader marries high school sweetheart...”

“Right...
‘Cause that worked out so well for
your parents. Aren’t they divorced? And mine... Who are we kidding? We’re
teenagers, we don’t know what real love is. And I for one, am not willing to
settle.”

Her
face contorts angrily, red flushing her pale skin. “Fine! I’m sooo over you anyways; you are such an
asshole, Landon Phoenix. I hope you lose tonight. I hope you have the worst goddamn
game of your life.” She turns her body in a flurry of rage, hair whipping me in
the face and storms out of the closet. And man I hope she gets it. That this was
the last time we’ll have this conversation.

I
don’t even let what she said bother me. Not while I’m preparing for the game.
Tonight’s game is all that matters. And the full ride to college I’ll get when
we win the State Championship. Nothing is going to stand in my way.

You can
Learn more about Landon by reading A Stiff Kiss, which is available all over
the place! Check out the below links J